Electrical wire coding machine or device



Dec. 26, 1967 R. L. COMET ELECTRICAL WIRE CODiNG MACHINE 0R DEVICE Filed Aug. 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. o M a r,

R LPH ATT R N EYS.

' Dec. 26, 1967 R- L. COMET 3,359,844

' ELECTRICAL WIRE comm MACHINE 0R DEVICE Filed Aug. 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 '66 7 72 I (928 6 //5 i V INVENTOR.

PALPH L COM ET,

ATTOENEYS.

United States Patent 3,359,844 ELECTRICAL WIRE CODING MACHINE OR DEVICE Ralph L. Comet, Hawthorne, N.J., assignor to Mask-()- Matic, Inc., Paterson, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 216,158 Claims. (Cl. 83435) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for making tabs from a strip of tape and for applying such tabs to wires for coding thereof, having a support, a shaft rotatable in the support, a plurality of pairs of axially spaced wiper blades in the form of discs having polygonal continuous edges mounted on the shaft, each pair being spaced apart and the adjacent pairs of wiper discs being spaced to define cavities for reception of wires to be coded, a plurality of cutter blades fixedly mounted on the support having portions extending between each of said pairs of wiper discs and said discs having tape supporting edges disposed in alignment in a common plane to receive an axially extended strip of tape thereon parallel to the shaft and overlying said cavities.

This invention relates to the general field of identification and, more specifically, the instant invention pertains to the provision of a machine or device employed in the marking, coding or identification of wires used in electrical circuits.

The electrical industry and technicians employed therein have long realized and understood the importance of coding, marking or otherwise identifying electrical wires used in wiring systems, not only to facilitate the installation of a given electrical circuit, but also to insure and safeguard those persons engaged in wiring installations against shock and electrocution which could ultimately prove to be fatal. As a general rule, the well-known type of electrical coding involves the introduction of coloring agents into the wire insulating covering or sheath and/or providing the insulator with a fabric cover in which is Woven a plurality of different colored threads. The latter is most frequently seen in cables consisting of a plurality 'of wires, such as, for example, the conventional telephone cable.

While this type of coding has had salutary results, it is not uncommon for electrical technicians to be faced with a wiring problem wherein coded wires are not immediately available when making either a permanent or temporary electrical circuit installation. It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of this invention to provide a machine or device for the making of indicia for application to electrical wires whereby identification of a given wire maybe easily and promptly ascertained.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine or device for making electrical wire identifying tabs of pre-selected colors and in accordance with code requirements.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine or device of the type generally referred to supra, the machine being portable and adjustable to provide electrical wire identifying tabs for differing sized wires.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of an electrical wire tab identification means, the machine or device being non-complex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects of this invention will become more manifest from a consideration of the following 3,359,844 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the machine or device constructed according to this invention and showing the mode of application of an electrical coding tape thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1, with the further showing of the application of an electrical coding tab to an electrical conductor;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, transverse, detail crosssectional view, FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 33 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 4 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, FIG- URE 5 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 55 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a detail longitudinal, cross-sectional view, FIGURE 6 being taken on the horizontal plane of line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a detail longitudinal, cross-sectional view, FIGURE 7 being taken on the inclined plane of line 77 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified coded tape-bearing spindle.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a machine or device for manufacturing tabs from flexible adhesivecoated tapes for use in the coding of individual wires used in electrical circuitry to identify the same, the machine or device being constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. Essentially, the machine or device 10 is designed to provide coding tabs for use on wires employed in electrical wiring systems in order to reduce, to a minimum, the possibility of miswiring, giving rise to short circuits, overloads and other malfunctions which may arise through the mistaken identity of a given wire, and to safeguard the electrical technician engaged in installing the circuitry from electrical shocks and electrocuttion which could prove to be fatal. To prevent such errors and accidents, the code machine 10 has been devised and is seen to comprise an open substantially U-shaped frame 12 which includes a normally horizontally-elongated, substantially rectangular base or bight member 14 to the opposed ends of which are rigidly secured, respectively, by conventional means not shown, the identically-shaped ogive upright standards 16, 18. In view of the identity of the standards, a description of the construction of one constitutes the description of the structure of the other.

Thus, and reference being made specifically to the standard 18, it is seen that the same is formed with an inwardly and transversely-extending, substantially semicylindrical heating or seat 20 (see FIGURES 2, 3 and 5) offset with respect to the apex of the standard 18, but positioned adjacent thereto. The bearings 20 of the standards 16, 18 are confronting and coaxially aligned. The standard 18, on the opposite side of its apex, is provided with a downwardly and outwardly, transversely-extending L- shaped notch 22, see FIGURES 3 and 4, having leg and foot sides 24, 26, respectively. The notches 22 formed in the standards 16, 18 are disposed in registry, one with the other, and the leg portions 24, as seen, form an acute angle with respect to the vertical axis of the standards.

Reference numeral 28 denotes an elongated, substantially rectangular cutter blade support member, the opposed ends of which are received in the notches 22 and are releasa bly secured therein by Allen screws 30 threaded 7 into the leg sides 24 thereof. One side of the support member 28 is formed with a mediallypositioned, longitudinally-extending, substantially U-shaped and downwardlyopenin'g groove 32 giving rise to a bigh't portion 34 having laterally-spaced, parallel and longitudinally-extending side arms 36, 38, and opposed longitudinally-spaced end walls 40, 42. To serve a purpose to be described, each end wall 40, 42 is provided with a transversely-extending opening 44.

Disposed within the groove 32 are a plurality of elongated substantially rectangular spacer blocks 46 between each adjacent pair of ends of which is interposed one end of an elongated substantially rectangular cutter blade 48 having an upwardly-facing cutting edge 50 (see FIGURE 4). The spacer blocks 46 in the remotely-disposed ends of the groove 32 have ends juxtaposed with respect to the side walls 40, 42, and the assembly of blocks 46 and blades 48 is releasably clamped in the groove 32 by compression exercised by the Allen screws 51 which are threaded into the openings 44 for engagement with the adjacent ends of the remotely-disposed spacer blocks 46.

The upper side 52 of the cutter blade support member 28 is beveled to form a planar surface 54 perpendicular to the vertical axis of the standards 16, 18, and to this beveled side is fixedly secured by Allen screws 56 one longitudinally-extending marginal edge of an elongated substantially rectangular plate 58. Fixed-ly secured to the oppositely-disposed longitudinal marginal edge of the plate 58, by screws 60, is an elongated substantially rectangular stop bar 62, the function of which will be detailed below.

Reference numeral 64 denotes, in general, an elongated spindle having an elongated substantially cylindrical shaft 66 terminating at its opposed ends in journals 68 which seat in the bearings 20 of the standards 16, 18. Coaxial with and projecting laterally from the shaft 66 is a plurality of pairs of longitudin'ally-sp'aced hexagonal wiper blades 70, 72 formed integral therewith. Disposed between each pair of wiper blades 70, 72 is a substantially cylindrical spacer element 74 also integrally formed with the shaft 66 and having a somewhat larger diameter. As is seen in the several figures of the drawings, the peripheral edges of the wiper blades 70, 72 are arranged in coplanar rows.

The remotely-disposed wiper blades 70', 72' have a greater axial length than their counterparts 70, 72, respectively, and their remotely-disposed sides are juxtaposed in surface-to-surface contact with the adjacent sides of the standards 16, 18 to function as anti-thrust members.

The remotely-disposed ends of the journals 68 terminate in manually-operable hexagonal knobs 74 and antithr-ust cylindrical flanges 76 which abut, respectively, against the remotely-disposed sides of the standards 16, 18.

In the construction of the machine 10, as described above, it is seen and is to be understood that the length of the cutting blades 48 and the angularity thereof with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 66 is such as to cause the free ends of the cutting blades 48 to extend between each adjacent pair of wiper blades 70, 72 to a point inside their respective peripheries, it being understood, of course, that the spacer bars 46 are properly dimensioned of effect the centering of the cutter blades between the wiper blades, for the clearance between the cutter blades 48 and the wiper blades 70, 72 is quite small.

To serve a function to be described, the device or machine may be, optionally, provided with an auxiliary stop bar 78 which may be removably disposed on the plate 58. The auxiliary stop bar 78 is, preferably, of rectangular configuration and when employed, has a longitudinally-extending side thereof in abutting engagement with the stop bar 62.

To carry out the intended functions of the machine 10, one or more strips 80 of conventional flexible tapes ha v- 4 ing adhesive applied to a side thereof, and of the same or differing colors, are applied to the coplanar edges of the wiper blades 70, 72 and 70', 72 in the manner shown in FIGURE 1. The strips 80 extend axially of the shaft 66 and preferably are of such length as to extend between the remotely-disposed wiper blades 70', 72'. The strips 80 are applied, of course, with the adhesive sides in engagement with the wiper blades 70, 72 and 70, 72'.

After one or more strips 80 are positioned on the spindle 64, the operator grasps and turns one of the knobs 74 thereby effecting rotation of the shaft 66 and consequently, of the wiper blades 70, 72 and 70, 72'. This rotation causes the leading longitudinal edge of one of the tapes -80 to engage against the cutting edges 50 of the cutter blades 48 to initiate the cutting of one of the tapes 80 into tabs 82 (see FIGURE 2), it being understood that continuous rotation of the wiper blades effects severance of the tape 80 completely transversely thereacross. It is of importance that the cutting action commence at an edge of the tape or strip 80 to provide a clean cut, whereby tabs 82 are formed, each having uniform dimensions.

To apply identifying code tabs 82 to a selected wire or conductor, the operator or electrician passes one end of the wire 84 over the shaft 66 between the wiper blade 70 or 72 of one pair of wiper blades and the reverse counterparts 72 or 70, respectively, of the immediately adjacent pair of wiper blades, and below the adhesivelycoated side of the tab 82. It is understood, of course, that in carrying out this operation, the tabs 82 have been rotated into substantially parallel position relative to the plate 58. The selected free end of the wire 84 is extended across the plate 58 until it engages against the stop bar 62 at which time the wire 84 is raised to engage the selected tab 82 and to move the same upwardly out of contact with its formerly-associated wiper blades 70, 72 (see FIGURES 3 and 4). The tab 82 now embraces substantially the upper half of the wire or conduit 84 and assumes a substantially U-shaped configuration including depending free arms 86, 88. These are subsequently pinched together by the operator, thereby securely conmeeting the tab 82 to the wire 84.

In the event the spacing between the free end of the wire 84 and the tab 82 is to be decreased, the auxiliary stop bar 78 is placed on the platform 58, in the manner described above.

. In the event wires smaller in diameter than the wire 84 are to be coded through the application of tabs 82, the spacing between each adjacent pairs of wiper blades 70, 72 and 70', 72' is reduced, as is shown in FIGURE 8, and the thickness of the wiper blades 70, 72 may be reduced, if desired. In all other respects, the spindle 64 shown in FIGURE 8 follows the construction of the spindle 64.

The spindles 64, 64 are, of course, interchangeable. It will be recognized, of course, that the spacing between each adjacent pair of wiper blades 70, 72 may be varied, and that upon exchange of spindles, such as, the replacement of the spindle 64 with the spindle 64, the spacer blocks 46 must be withdrawn and other similar blocks (not shown) inserted in the groove 32 to insure that each blade 48 is clearly insertable between its associated wiper blades.

It will be recognized, of course, that while the above specification is directed primarily to the description of a tape-cutting machine for coding electrical wires or conductors, the device 10 has application in other fields wherein it is desired to form substantially uniform tabs from a strip or length of tape.

Aside and apart from achieving all of the objectives noted above, it is pointed out that the structure of this machine or device 10 is such that accidental injuries due to physical contact of the fingers or other portions of the users body with the cutter blades 46 is, to all intent and purposes, eliminated. Through reference to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, it is seen that the clearance between the wiper blades 70, 72 and the adjacent edge of the upper side 52 of the cutter blade support is relatively small, and that while the support member 12 constitutes a substantially open U-shaped frame permitting the entry of the hand and fingers of the user, still, since the blades 48 have their cutting edges 50 facing upwardly, there is but little possibility that the user could be cut.

Having described and illustrated this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely as an example, and that the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for making tabs from a strip of tape and for applying such tabs to wires for coding thereof, comprising a support member, a shaft, means supporting said shaft for rotation on said support member, a plurality of pairs of axially-spaced wiper blades carried on said shaft and projecting laterally therefrom, the adjacent pairs of wiper blades being spaced to define cavities for reception of wires to be coded, a plurality of cutter blades corresponding in number to the number of said pairs of wiper blades, means on said support member for mounting said blades in longitudinally-spaced relation with each cutter blade, respectively, having a portion thereof extending between each of said pairs of wiper blades, and said wiper blades having tape supporting edges disposed in alignment in a common plane to receive an axially-extended strip of tape thereon parallel to said shaft and overlying said cavities, whereby rotation of said shaft in a direction toward said cutter blades causes said tape to engage said cutter blades for transverse severance from its leading edge to its trailing edge thereby forming said tabs.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of said wiper blades has a continuous peripheral edge surrounding said shaft a portion of which is planar, said planar portions being aligned with one another axially of said shaft to receive a tape strip.

3. A device for making electric wire identification tabs comprising a support member, a shaft, means supporting said shaft for rotation on said support member, a plurality of pairs of axially-spaced wiper blades carried on said shaft and projecting laterally therefrom, each of said wiper blades having a continuous polygonal peripheral edge with the surfaces of said peripheral edges being disposed in axially-extending rows with said surfaces of any given row disposed in a common plane, a plurality of cutter blades corresponding in number to the number of said pairs of wiper blades, means on said support member mounting said cutter blades in longitudinally-spaced relation with each cutter blade, respectively, having a portion thereof extending between each of said pairs of wiper blades, and said surfaces of each of said rows being adapted to receive thereon an axially-extending flexible tape whereby rotation of said shaft in a direction toward said cutter blades causes said tape to engage said cutter blades for transverse severance from its leading edge to its trailing edge to form said tabs.

4. A device for making electric wire identification tabs comprising a support member, a plurality of cutting blades fixedly secured on said support member in longitudinally-spaced relation, tape-supporting means comprising a pair of elements for each of said blades, and means mounting each of said pairs of elements on said support member in juxtaposition to and on opposite sides of each blade, respectively, said last-named means being movable to effect an engagement of said cutter blades with an edge of said tape and with the attendant and consequent severance of said tape into tabs, said pairs of elements being spaced apart and together with said mounting means defining cavities for reception of wires to be coded, whereby after severance of the tape into tabs wires may be inserted in the cavities and lifted to remove the tabs from said elements and adhere them to the wires.

5. A device for making electric wire identification tabs comprising a substantially U-shaped support member including an elongated base having a pair of spaced upright standards thereon, each of said standards having a bearing formed therein, said bearings being disposed in confronting relation relative to each other, each of said standards having an outwardly-opening notch formed therein, said notches being disposed in confronting relation relative to one another, an elongated cutter blade support bar having ends supported in said notches, a plurality of cutter blades spaced longitudinally on said bar, an elongated shaft having journals at the opposed ends thereof seated in said bearings, a plurality of pairs of polygonal Wiper blades mounted for rotation on said shaft in axially-spaced relation, each of said cutter blades projecting toward said wiper blades with a portion of one blade being positioned between, respectively, each pair of wiper blades, said wiper blades having their respective surfaces at the peripheral edges thereof arranged in axially-extending rows with the surfaces of each row disposed in a common plane, and each row of surfaces being adapted to receive an adhesively-coated side of a flexible tape thereon and extending axially of said shaft whereby rotation of said shaft toward said cutter blades causes the leading longitudinal edges of said tapes and the subsequent severance of said tapes to form said tabs.

6. A device for making electric wire identification tabs as defined in claim 5, and an elongated substantially rectangular plate having one of its longitudinally-extending marginal edges fixedly secured to said spacer support bar and projecting laterally therefrom, and an upstanding substantially rectangular stop bar fixedly secured to the other longitudinally-extending marginal edge of said plate.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said wiper blades are discs each having a polygonal peripheral edge, the planar surfaces of said peripheral edges being disposed in rows parallel to said shaft with the surfaces of any given row disposed in a common plane.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said wire receiving cavities are defined between said wiper blades by the outer surface of said shaft, there being a guide plate mounted on said support member substantially tangent to said outer shaft surface to receive the ends of wires to be coded.

9. A device according to claim 5 wherein said blade support bar is provided with a longitudinal slot for receiving and supporting the ends of said cutter blades.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said cutter blades are separated by spacer blocks seated in said slot, said support bar having walls at the ends pierced by threaded apertures, and screws passing through the apertures and engaging the assembled spacer blocks and cutter blades to exert longitudinal clamping compression.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,452,227 4/ 1923 Straubel 83-411 1,882,139 10/1932 Giuffre 83411 2,528,455 10/ 1950 Stephenson 83-411 2,788,852 4/1957 Sharpe 83--922 X 2,952,375 9/1960 Grubelic 116517 3,020,193 2/1962 Seck 156-517 2,975,092 3/ 1961 Hagerty 156-212 3,026,232 3/1962 Finch 156212 JAMES M. MEISTER, Primary Examiner.

EARL M. BERGERT, Examiner.

W. J. VAN BALEN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR MAKING TABS FROM A STRIP OF TAPE AND FOR APPLYING SUCH TABS TO WIRES FOR CODING THEREOF, COMPRISING A SUPPORT MEMBER, A SHAFT, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF AXIALLY-SPACED WIPER BLADES CARRIED ON SAID SHAFT AND PROJECTING LATERALLY THEREFROM, THE ADJACENT PAIRS OF WIPER BLADES BEING SPACED TO DEFINE CAVITIES FOR RECEPTION OF WIRES TO BE CODED, A PLURALITY OF CUTTER BLADES CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER TO THE NUMBER OF SAID PAIRS OF WIPER BLADES, MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER FOR MOUNTING SAID BLADES IN LONGITUDINALLY-SPACED RELATION WITH EACH CUTTER BLADE, RESPECTIVELY, HAVING A PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING BETWEEN EACH OF SAID PAIRS OF WIPER BLADES, AND SAID WIPER BLADES HAVING TAPE SUPPORTING EDGES DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT IN A COMMON PLANE TO RECEIVE AN AXIALLY-EXTENDED 